New residency requirements put some officials in the spotlight

Friday

Jun 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

HOPEWELL - Changes to city code allowing some top managers to live outside of Hopewell has raised the question that the amendment grants unfair exceptions. Before the change, which passed during a special session of City Council earlier this week, depart

HOPEWELL - Changes to city code allowing some top managers to live outside of Hopewell has raised the question that the amendment grants unfair exceptions. Before the change, which passed during a special session of City Council earlier this week, department heads and the assistant city manager were required to move to the city within six months of employment.

Councilor Brenda Pelham, Ward 6, said that the ordinance "should not be changed because of personal cost."

Previously, the assistant city manager, clerk, attorney and department heads, were required to become city residents within six months of being hired. Now, the assistant city manager and department heads residing within 30 miles of the city at the time hired are exempted from the requirement. Also, if anyone in these offices lives within 30 miles and decides to move, they must relocate within city limits.

However, the city manager, attorney and clerk still must follow the six-month relocation requirement.

City Attorney David Fratarcangelo said that he interprets the code as applicable retroactively.

Since department heads report directly to City Manager Ed Daley, Pelham asked Daley if it was made clear that "residency requirements were part of the deal."

Daley said that applicants were given a year to move to the city, and that one has been granted an extension of a second year.

Pelham said during the public City Council meeting, that she believed the amendment was created because Hopewell Chief of Police John Keohane lives outside of the city.

She was then asked by Mayor Michael Bujakowski to not call out specific individuals, but to refer to the situation in more general terms.

She said that in its decision-making on the ordinance, the council "should examine this issue and take the emotions out of the equation of liking someone."

When asked later to comment on Pelham's statements, Keohane declined.

Pelham also said that the issue was economic as well because top managers living in other localities will spend less money in Hopewell.

"When directors live in Chesterfield, Prince George, or Dinwiddie and leave Hopewell, they do not come back to purchase a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk or gas," she said. "You councilors always speak of how much money you want to save the city; add this to the list of revenue that could be coming in."

Pelham also said that a 60-mile round trip for those using city vehicles to travel to and from work was a significant expense for the city.

Councilor Jackie Shornak, Ward 7, said that city employees are "vested in their jobs" regardless of residence.

She also said that the status of the housing market was also an issue in determining residency.

"With real estate and the market we cannot dictate where they are going to live."

Pelham responded that directors living within the city, "are more likely to build relationships with people in the city."

Councilor Wayne Walton, Ward 5, said that the amendment would allow Hopewell to be open to a bigger pool of talent.

"We're not one city or one county anymore. We are the world," he said. "We need to open up Hopewell to a different way of doing things."

Councilor Roosevelt Edwards, Ward 2, said that he had no problem with directors living outside of the city "as long as they report to work at 8 and do their work and leave at 5."

Walton proposed a substitute motion to adopt the amendment on the first reading which was seconded by Shornak. The amendment passed 5-2, with Pelham and Councilor Christina Luman-Bailey, Ward 1, voting against.

- Leah Small can be reached at 804-722-5172 or lsmall@progress-index.com

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